Singing Her Own Song: Profiling Ellen Lancaster
--by Jamie Easton, New York Times
Ellen Lancaster is a woman who refuses to be labeled. Eschewing recognition, this powerful Delta seeks fulfillment through helping others find their voice. While her tale might seem one of rags to riches, she sees only a lifetime of riches, many of them far more precious than material wealth.

Falling Toward Grace: Profiling Sarah Voltaire
--by Jamie Easton, New York Times
From one of the world's most powerful and prominent Deltas to part-time barista in Greenwich Village, the life of Sarah Voltaire might seem like a fall from grace. But spending a warm afternoon with her recently, I came to know a woman who has fallen not from, but towards grace.

"Thandrar was seeing red, the frustration was building as he traded blow after blow with his enemy. Their blade lashed out and drew blood, but instead of weakening Thandrar, he was energized - the last straw! His pent up rage and frustration peaked and he smote his foe with such force as to bisect the fool, bathing himself, his blade and the floor in blood and gore."

There are a myriad of trains that run on the ley lines all through Vallermoore, delivering passengers and goods to their destinations, but they all have to give way by Law when the Royal War Train comes through.

One day a man named Koret claimed to realize what was wrong with humanity. Shortly after that he claimed to have figured out how to fix all the world problems, and he wrote down a series of commandments aimed at saving humanity from themselves. Over 500 years after his teachings were literally set into stone people are still talking about what he wrote, and some are even trying to follow it.

Influence

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Rings and Things

Pirates' many bejeweled rings and piercings actually had a practical purpose - when the pirate or sailor died, the rings could be taken off as payment for a proper burial, saving him from a watery grave. This could be tied into regional culture, or made into a quest (The Pirate's Lost Rings, etc.). Also gives treasure-seeking divers another thing to look for besides crusty old chests.